G. Ternatensis + Tank size

[MTV]

Hi all,

I'm new around here but I have a couple of quick questions that I'm hoping someone can help me with!

I've spent quite a bit of time checking stomatopods out and have become absolutely fascinated by them. Some time next year (prob around August) I will have moved out of my current place and will be looking to completely change my tanks. Currently I keep three freshwater tropical tanks but I would like to downgrade to one fresh-trop and one marine. In that marine I want a mantis.

I've become quite fond of G. Ternatensis and have done a bit of reading about them. Some sources say (ie Roy's List) that they can be kept in 40L (just shy of 10g) tanks but others recommend more towards the 30g end. Whilst 30g might be quite extreme for me I would never try to keep a tank below 12-20g (50-75L) in size. Would this be enough for one of these guys to grow up in?

Also, I'm seriously concerned that they'll smash the hell out of the glass... Any comments?

Finally, if any/all of these questions can be answered at some website which serves as a guide could someone point it out?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Mark

 

[Mr Stomato]

Generally only 2 of the "commonly" kept mantis are capable of glass damage. Those would be chiragra and O. scyllarus (peacock). And even then they would need to be close to full grown.

Personally I think any species that is 4" and under can do well in a 10-20g. Anything larger should be above 20g. This is a matter of opinion but really it all boils down to how large of a habitat you would like to provide.

 

[MTV]

Cool thanks. So if G. Ternatensis grow to a little over 4" then 20-25g is ok?

 

[Gonodactylus]

There is no correct formula for determining tank size for a stomatopod. It depends on the size of the individual, the species, how big it can get, and what type of habitat you want to provide. My recommendations on Roy's List are based on an average sized adult typically available commercially and are for a species tank with the minimum volume that I feel will provide a stable environment. I also assume that you want to provide enough room so that the animal can be out and about. I have a lot of gonodactylids in .25 L "tanks", but then they are 10 -15 mm long.

As for glass breaking by G. ternatensis, a standard mid-sized adult animal in the 7-8 cm range is probably no threat to a standard 10 gal aquarium. The most they could do is chip a bottom edge when digging and that is easily prevented by an extra wide silicon bead around the bottom and/or a strip of Plexiglass.

G. ternatensis in the field live in a very specialized habitat. They are found almost exclusively living in cavities inside colonies of densely branching corals such as Pocillopora damacornis. The animals literally chip away the branches inside the coral head creating a cavity. As they grow, they expand the size of the hole. (The fact that live in live coral is the reason that I am hesitant to recommend this species because to obtain them collectors almost invariably destroy the coral colony to get them out or resort to chemicals.)

I must take exception to Mr. Stomato's comment that generally only two commonly kept stomatopods can damage glass. The largest gonodactylid species known is Gonodactylaceus ternatensis. They grow to a maximum size of almost 5 inches, considerably larger than a four inch Gonodactylus chiragra. A large G. ternatensis is quite capable of breaking glass. I've also had problems with large Gonodactylaceus graphurus and glabrous. G. graphurus is only commonly sold in Australia, but G. glabrous often shows up in shipments from Indonesia. Also, in southern California quite a few people are keeping Hemisquilla californiensis which at 11 inches can take out a glass tank.

Roy

 

[Altpers0na]

i thought that californies could not be kept? am i thinking of another fungus prone mantis?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Most eventually succumb to fungus, but we have made some progress at least slowing it down using fungicides, uv-sterilization of water, etc. I just lost an animal that I had for over a year and a half - by far the longest I have kept one.

Roy

 

[MTV]

Wow, thanks for all the info Roy! I live in Australia, so the availability of mantis shrimp will undoubtedly vary compared to my US counterparts, however I know of people who keep them here, so it is done.

I had planned on getting a custom purpose-built tank for the stomatopod so plexiglass will be layered onto the bottom to help guard against chipping. I'm also looking at a 25-30 GALLON tank which I'm assuming should be fine for most of the smaller species. Although more research will be conducted before I buy one. As mentioned above I won't be looking to actually acquire one until around August next year to take into account a change of residence as well as all necessary research.

However I had not taken into account the effect of retrieving one from the wild and the potential coral/ecosystem damage associated. With that in mind, can you recommend another species? I'd prefer to keep a smaller species than a peacock but would prefer a more active and colourful variation.

Your help has been greatly appreciated! Also, that is one fantastic website that you have going there! Keep up the great work!

 

[Gonodactylus]

Odontodactylus latirostris occurs from Stradbrook Island to Cape York. It lives in burrows, so no damage collecting them. G. graphurus lives in branchy coral, but in loose heads that are easily manipulated to get the animals our. I also get them from rubble or even turning stones at really low tides (Magnetic Island). G. smithii, G. chiragra, and G. platysoma are all collected at low tide running around on the reef flat, so again, no damage. The most active would be O. latirostris, but I also like G. smithii.

Roy

 

[MTV]

Thanks Roy, I'll look into that. I like the look of G. smithii, are they glass smashers? Could that be countered with layers of plexiglass or even a tank made of the stuff (is that possible?)?

Being that they ship from Indonesia I'd say that they are probably fairly easy to find here in Aus.

 

[Gonodactylus]

G. smithii typically do not exceed 8 cm and are glass safe (99%). I can collect a dozen an hour on Heron or Lizard, so they may be available from some of the collectors in Cairns or Townsville.

Roy

 

[MTV]

Cool, thanks again Roy. I'll let you know how my search goes!

 

[dragonforce]

I keep a female in a 3g picotope. I might have to trade her in the next year or so because I do not plan on upgrading. She has a rock fortress carved out and lives with a rock boring urchin.